STILLS FROM WORK
Empyrean is a music video developed by Ganesh Rao and Jonny Greenwald in the VIZA 623 class at the Dept. of Visualization at Texas A&M University under the guidance of Professor Karen Hillier. The objective was to create a visually intriguing cinematic experience, with stunning technicality and conceptual elements. Minimal and symbolic characters and sets are used to vaguely portray themes of 'genesis' with underlying elements of the Hindu mythology.
As Director of Photography, I was given the job of trying to decipher how to translate the storyboards into the real world, not only technically but also thematically. I started by collecting references from paintings, films, and theater to begin grounding this world into something believable. For me, creating shots for Empyrean was about designing a picture that held the same kind of spiritual or sacred gravitas as a painting in a chapel or an illustration from the Rigveda.
We found that a low-contrast, diffused light emanating from the top seemed to produce the most intriguing look, giving our creatures a very angelic presence. From the lighting references, Ganesh then painted the lighting keys and I began making color palettes, as I learned to create through the lectures of Michelle Robinson from Disney Studios. The purpose of these palettes is to use the mood and feeling of colors to portray the story from start to climax. For our story, it began with life, backtracked to barrenness, and then again to how it began, with enough room left intentionally for subjective interpretation by the audience.
Taken from Ganesh Rao's album The Forbidden Circle. Please check out the original blog for the project to follow the behind-the-scenes.
HONORS
Official Selection of SXSW Film Festival 2012
CREDITS
Director
Ganesh Rao
Director of Photography
Jonny Greenwald
